My friend has a PC with an Intel i5-10400F, 32GB of DDR4 RAM at 3200MHz (but it seems the CPU can only utilize around 2100-2400MHz), and a small GeForce 4060 GPU, all on an MSI B460M motherboard. He was initially considering upgrading to a new CPU to make full use of the RAM's potential, but the decent options are pretty expensive. I suggested he save for an AM5 build instead since the current platform feels outdated. However, he ended up buying an Intel i7-11700K, only to find out it's not compatible with his motherboard despite having the same socket. So, my question is, is it worth trying to find a used motherboard for the $150 he spent on the CPU, or should he sell the CPU and save for an AM5 setup?
2 Answers
Before diving into a new CPU, I wonder if he's heavily into CPU-bound games. If he is, then sure, but if not, it's probably not necessary. It's worth asking if he plays games that would truly benefit from an upgrade, like Civ or Cyberpunk; those can demand more from the CPU.
The i5-10400F is limited to 2666MHz on the B460, so upgrading the CPU might not give you the performance boost you expect. Honestly, I think he should have invested in a better GPU instead. The 11700K seems like a waste on that motherboard; I'd skip grabbing another LGA1200 mobo altogether.
Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload